ASK APRIA

Today's Clinician

Sarah Caldwell

Sarah has been a Registered Respiratory Therapist for 40 years. She currently serves Apria patients as a Telehealth RT out of the Southeastern United States. In her free time, Sarah keeps busy by taking care of her 85 year-old dad and spending time with her fiancé and son. She also enjoys watching sporting events, especially the University of Kentucky and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Q. I'm sick and coughing, what should I do about using my CPAP? Not use it?

A. Even if you're sick, you need to use your CPAP per your doctor's orders. It may sound counter-intuitive, but getting sleep, especially if you're sick, is critical to helping you heal. When you're sick and you don't use your CPAP, the amount of restful sleep you get will be even less than when you do use your CPAP, causing your symptoms to be even worse and can potentially prolong your illness.

Adjusting your humidifier can help some. If you have a dry cough, try turning your humidifier up to increase the moisture. And if you are congested or have a wet cough, turn your humidifier down.

Q. How often do I need a new mask? I know I need to regularly replace the mask cushions and liners, but what about the whole mask?

A. The manufacturer recommends that every three months you replace the mask frame and tubing and you do a complete mask kit change every six months. Specifically, this means that a new cushion, frame, and headgear should be swapped out every six months. Replacing your cushions as recommended will also help maintain your mask's effectiveness. Your provider can bill insurance for this complete mask change every six months as well.

Q. My hose makes a knocking sound after being in use for a few hours. I use a humidifier. What would cause the knocking sound?

A. The knocking sound is something called CPAP rainout. You have a buildup of condensation, or water, in your tubing from the humidifier. This happens when the air blowing through the tubing is warmer than the air outside of the tubing in your bedroom.

There are a few ways to fix this. You can turn your humidifier down. You can also purchase a CPAP tube cover or try putting your tubing underneath the covers to keep warm. The last thing to remember is that you want your machine to be slightly lower than your head, that way gravity will keep any potential condensation buildup in the tubing from trickling toward your mouth.

For more information: CPAP Rainout and How to Avoid it.

Q. I just had COVID and I need to sanitize my machine, how should I do that so I don't reinfect myself?

A. If you have extra supplies, it's best to just switch them all out. This means swapping out your mask, tubing, humidifier chamber, and filters. If you don't have extra supplies on hand then clean each part as is recommended by the manufacturer. If you want to have extras supplies on hand for the future, you can always call us and purchase more as well.

For more information: How to Clean Your CPAP.

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